Methods, apparatuses, and systems for administering wagering games

ABSTRACT

Methods of administering wagering games may comprise accepting an ante wager from each player. Player cards may be dealt, face up, and community cards may be dealt, face down. A series of check indications or Play wagers may be accepted from each participating player, with Play wagers of decreasing value being placed with each subsequent round of checking or betting. A community card may be revealed after each round of checking or betting. Once all cards are revealed, a best hand for each eligible player may be identified. A first payout may be paid on a first basis for the ante wager and a second payout may be paid on a second, different basis for any Play wager to each eligible player holding a best hand of a predetermined rank or higher.

FIELD

The disclosure relates generally to methods of administering wageringgames for casinos and other gaming establishments, and related systemsand apparatuses. More specifically, disclosed embodiments relate tomethods of administering wagering games wherein players are givenmultiple opportunities to place Play wagers, with Play wagers of greatervalue being placed at earlier stages in the game and with lessinformation available to the players, and wherein different bases areused for payouts on ante and Play wagers.

BACKGROUND

Poker is a popular wagering game played in casinos and other gamingestablishments. Many variants of poker have been developed, includingwithout limitation, five card draw, five card stud, seven card stud,Mississippi Stud™, Texas Hold'em, and Ultimate Texas Hold'Em™. However,avid players are always open to new and more interesting ways to playexisting poker games, particularly when the reward for a winning outcomeat the end of a round of play, or the odds of achieving a winningoutcome, may be enhanced.

Since the number of cards employed in a poker game is fixed withincertain practical limits, and various poker hands and their relativeranks are and have been well-established for over a century, evolutionof the game of poker in terms of meaningful variations is somewhatconstrained.

In addition, it has been recognized, through play of certain wageringgames such as Let it Ride™, a variation of five card stud poker, thatmany players prefer to play against paytables and not against a dealerhand. In Let it Ride™, three player cards and two community cards areused to form a five card hand. A portion of a player's Ante wager may bewithdrawn from the pot prior to each of the two community cards beingrevealed. However, some players who enjoy Let it Ride™ also desiregreater game volatility, and more wager opportunities, particularly inthe course of a round of play.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In some embodiments, methods of administering wagering games maycomprise accepting an ante wager from each participating player. Playercards may be dealt to each participating player, face up. At least threecommunity cards may be dealt, face down. A first check indication or afirst bet indication may be received from each participating player anda first Play wager of a first, greatest value may be accepted from eachparticipating player who made the first bet indication. A firstcommunity card of the at least three community cards may be revealed. Asecond check indication or a second bet indication may be received fromeach eligible player and a second Play wager of a second, intermediatevalue may be accepted from each eligible player who made the second betindication. A second community card of the at least three communitycards may be revealed. A fold indication or a third bet indication maybe received from each eligible player and a third Play wager of a third,least value may be accepted from each eligible player who made the thirdbet indication. A third community card of the at least three communitycards may be revealed. A best hand for each eligible player may beidentified from the player cards and the at least three community cards.A first payout may be paid on a first basis for the ante wager and asecond payout may be paid on a second, different basis for any Playwager to each eligible player holding a best hand of a predeterminedrank or higher.

In other embodiments, methods of administering wagering games maycomprise accepting an ante wager and a blind wager from eachparticipating player. An optional bonus wager may be accepted from atleast one participating player. Three player cards may be dealt to eachparticipating player, face up. Three community cards may be dealt, facedown. A first check indication or a first bet indication may be receivedfrom each participating player and a first Play wager of a first,greatest value may be accepted from each participating player who madethe first bet indication. A first community card of the three communitycards may be revealed. A second check indication or a second betindication may be received from each eligible player and a second Playwager of a second, intermediate value may be accepted from each eligibleplayer who made the second bet indication. A second community card ofthe three community cards may be revealed. A fold indication or a thirdbet indication may be received from each eligible player and a thirdPlay wager of a third, least value may be accepted from each eligibleplayer who made the third bet indication. A third community card of thethree community cards may be revealed. A best five-card poker hand foreach player who did not fold may be identified from the three playercards and the three community cards. A best three-card poker hand foreach player who made the optional bonus wager may be identified from thethree player cards. An even-money payout for the ante wager, a blindfixed odds payout based on a blind paytable for the blind wager, withincreasing amounts being paid for higher ranked hands, and a Play fixedodds payout based on a different Play paytable for any Play wager, withincreasing amounts being paid for higher ranked hands, may be paid toeach player holding a best five-card poker hand of a predetermined rankor higher who did not fold. A bonus fixed odds payout based on a stilldifferent bonus paytable for any bonus wager, with increasing amountsbeing paid for higher ranked hands, may be paid to each player holding abest three-card poker hand of another predetermined rank or higher whomade the bonus wager.

Further embodiments may include one, some, or all of the following: Theacts of the dealer may be carried out by a visual representation of adealer, the visual representation being generated and/or displayed by acomputer. The visual representation may be a virtual person (e.g., ananimation), or may be a transmission (e.g., a video) of an actualperson. The visual representation may be part of an online gamingexperience of the disclosed game. The acts described in this disclosureassociated with a dealer, including dealing cards, displaying or turningcards over, receiving or paying bets, or any other actions, may berepresented in any way when used in an online environment. For example,the cards associated with a dealer action, described as being dealt orotherwise handled by a dealer, may appear as virtual cards or astransmitted pictures of physical cards. This may include a display ofvirtual card decks where each deck, individual card, and hand isdisplayed to an online player in a manner consistent with the game playdisclosed herein, but may or may not include a visual representation ofa dealer with the cards. Likewise, betting activity may be displayed inany manner to a player, including, but not limited to, virtual chips,betting pools, numbers, or other indicia of a bet amount.

The online experience may involve players playing remotely (e.g., in adifferent physical location) from the dealer, the location of a gameserver, or both, interacting through a networked connection that mayinclude but is not limited to the Internet. The online game play mayinvolve players who are also physically remote from each other. Remoteconnections may use networks involving several types of network links,including but not limited to the Internet. Networked connectionsallowing physically remote players to play a game using a game server orsystem may be part of an implementation of a virtual or online gamingenvironment.

The actions described in this disclosure as the acts of a player,including betting, card selection (if any), card discards (if any), orany other actions, may be carried out over a network where the indicatedactions are received as input to a device. The input-receiving device istypically physically remote from the game server or game host andconnected over a long-distance network, but could be implemented over awired or wireless LAN in one building, or even in one room, for example.In one embodiment, game play generated at the server or host locationmay be displayed on the same device as the receiving device. In someembodiments, game play may be conveyed to remote players in devicesseparate from the devices receiving input from a player, such as publicscreens or publicly broadcast data about a game coupled with individualor private input devices. The reception of an input at a device may beaccomplished through any technology adapted for such a purpose,including but not limited to keypads, keyboards, touchpads, mice,optical location devices, eye movement/location detectors, sound inputdevices, etc. When discussing a device, it is understood the device maycomprise multiple components and be complex, including hardwarecomponents combined with firmware and/or software, and may itself be asubcomponent of a larger system.

Yet other embodiments may comprise apparatuses and systems foradministering wagering games according to embodiments of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While the disclosure concludes with claims particularly pointing out anddistinctly claiming embodiments within the scope of the disclosure,various features and advantages of embodiments encompassed by thedisclosure may be more readily ascertained from the followingdescription when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a flow chart diagram of a method of administering a wageringgame;

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a playing surface for implementation of thewagering game;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged diagram of one of the player positions of theplaying surface of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an individual electronic gaming deviceconfigured for implementation of embodiments of wagering games;

FIG. 5 is a top view of a suitable table configured for implementationof embodiments of wagering games;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a suitable tableconfigured for implementation of embodiments of wagering games having avirtual dealer;

FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of a gaming system for implementingwaging games according to an embodiment; and

FIG. 8 is a high-level block diagram of a computer for acting as agaming system according to one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The illustrations presented herein are not meant to be actual views ofany particular act in a method of administering a wagering game,apparatus for use in administering a wagering game, or componentthereof, but are merely idealized representations employed to describeillustrative embodiments. Thus, the drawings are not necessarily toscale. Additionally, elements common between figures may retain the sameor similar numerical designation.

Disclosed embodiments relate generally to methods of administeringwagering games wherein players are given multiple opportunities to placePlay wagers, with Play wagers of greater value being placed at earlierstages in the game and with less information available to the players,and wherein different bases are used to calculate appropriate payouts onante and Play wagers. More specifically, disclosed are methods ofadministering wagering games that may entice players to place betsearlier during game play, place higher bets, and participate in thewagering game for longer periods through monetary rewards, increasedexcitement (e.g., by varying availability of information to theplayers), and player interaction and control (e.g., by offering multipleopportunities to check, bet, or fold and having players compete againsta paytable).

The terms “gaming,” “gambling,” or the like, refer to activities, games,sessions, rounds, hands, rolls, operations, and other events related towagering games such as web games, casino games, card games, dice games,and other games whose outcome is at least partially based on one or morerandom events (“chance” or “chances”), and on which wagers may be placedby a player. In addition, the words “wager,” “bet,” “bid” or the like,refer to any type of wagers, bets or gaming ventures that are placed ongames whose outcome is at least partially based on one or more randomevents, whether of monetary or non-monetary value. Points, credits, andother items of value may be purchased, earned, or otherwise issued priorto beginning the wagering game. In some embodiments, purchased points,credits, or other items of value may have an exchange rate that is notone-to-one to the currency used by the user. For example, a wager mayinclude money, points, credits, symbols, or other items that may havesome value related to a wagering game.

Wagers may be placed in wagering games that are “play for pay”, as wellas virtual wagers placed on “play for fun” games. Play for fun games mayinclude simulated wagering using, for example, non-redeemable credits.Both types of games are described in more detail below.

Referring to FIG. 1, a flow chart diagram of a method 100 ofadministering or playing a wagering game is shown. The method 100 maybegin with the making an ante bet, accepting an ante bet, or receivingan indication that an ante bet (which may also be called an “antewager”) has been made or received from each participating player, or ata location associated with a particular player, as indicated at 102. Forthe purposes of this description, it will be understood that when anaction related to accepting wagers, making payouts, dealing cards,selecting cards, or other actions associated with a player or a dealerare described, the description includes a player or dealer taking theaction, the results of the action on a live or virtual table or display,and, if applicable, the reception or detection of such an action in anelectronic form where player and dealer choices, selections, or otheractions are received at an electronic interface. This further includesthe results of a virtual dealer and virtual players, where the actionsdescribed are actually generated by a computer (typically associatedwith an on-line game). By way of a further example, if dealing of a cardis described herein, the description includes (but is not limited to):the dealing of a card by a dealer from a deck, shuffler, or other cardsource and the reception or placement of the card at a table locationassociated with a player, or reception directly by a player; thegeneration and transmission of an electronic indication of a card from agame play source or server to an electronic receiver, where the receivermay be at a table (using virtual cards) including players and/or virtualplayers and/or a dealer or virtual dealer, at a public display in acasino, at a remote location (e.g., using on-line or Internet gameplay), or other locations; also included is the representation of a cardon a display or displays, and, if applicable to the action described, anelectronic reception of an indication that the card has been received,selected, or otherwise interacted with at a location associated with aplayer, or, associated with a virtual player.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, the ante wager may be made by eachplayer wishing to participate in the upcoming wagering game (which mayrepresent the start of one game play; a game session may comprise one ormore individual game plays). This description includes any form ofwagering value, including money, casino chips, or other physical meansfor payment, to on-line or remote electronic authorization of a wager inany acceptable form to the casino or on-line or virtual game host. Alsoincluded are physical representations of money (e.g., casino chips) at alocal gaming table 300 or 400 (see FIGS. 3 and 4), or by electronicallyauthorizing a transfer of money or digital representations of money(e.g., digital representations of bills or coins, digitalrepresentations of chips, numerical quantities of money, numericalquantities of points, or numerical quantities of credits) at a local orremote electronic gaming device 200, 300, 400, 520, or 600 (see FIGS. 2through 6). As a specific, non-limiting example, the individual playersmay begin a gaming session at an electronic gaming table 300 or 400 (seeFIGS. 3 and 4) (e.g., by logging into a player account, by swiping aplayer account card, or by swiping a credit card) and interact withpersonal interface devices 232, 316, 432, 610, 614, 618 (see FIGS. 2through 6) (e.g., touchscreens, keyboards, buttons, switches, etc.) toauthorize placement of the ante wager. The ante wager may be accepted,for example, by placing physical money or physical representations ofmoney in a designated area of a gaming table 300 or 400 (see FIGS. 3 and4), by displaying digital representations of money in a designated areaof at least one display screen 274, 316, 330, 432, 460, 464, or 618 (seeFIGS. 2 through 4 and 6), or by displaying a monetary amount of thefirst wager on at least one display screen 274, 316, 330, 432, 460, 464,or 618 (see FIGS. 2 through 4 and 6), which may be remotely located froma dealer or game server 506 (see FIG. 7).

In some embodiments, a blind wager may be accepted in addition to theante wager. For example, the wagers placed at the initiation of thewagering game may comprise an initial ante to play the underlyingwagering game and a blind wager, each of which may be mandatory.Further, if a blind wager is made, the ante wager and blind wager may berequired to be equal in value. As a specific, non-limiting example, theante wager may comprise an initial ante wager amount and a mandatoryblind wager of equal value to the ante wager. Having a required antewager and blind wager may enable paytables and their associated odds tobe made against both wagers independently. For example, the ante wagerand blind wager may be made against a single paytable applicable to bothwagers, or the ante wager may be made against a first paytable and theblind wager may be made against a second, different paytable. In someembodiments, the ante and blind wagers made by the players may be equalin value, regardless of whether the paytables against which the wagersare made are the same or are different. In some embodiments, one or moreadditional, mandatory wagers may be accepted at the beginning of thewagering games, which may be made against a paytable that is the sameas, or different than, the paytable against which the ante wager, theblind wager, or both are made.

In some embodiments, at least one bonus wager (e.g., a side bet) may beaccepted from at least one participating player, as indicated at 103. Insome embodiments, the bonus wager or wagers may be accepted before anycards are dealt. In other embodiments, players may be dealt a card orcards and then permitted to place a bonus wager or side bet. A bonuswager may comprise, for example, a wager that player cards held by anindividual player (i.e., cards available to individual players notincluding community cards) will form a hand of a predetermined a rank orbetter.

Cards may be dealt to each participating player, as indicated at 104.For example, physical cards that have been randomized (e.g., by manualor automated shuffling) may be distributed sequentially to eachparticipating player, the order of which may be dictated by a set ofgame rules. In additional embodiments, digital representations of cards(e.g., images resembling physical cards or characters and symbols) maybe displayed on personal display screens 274, 316, 432, or 618 (seeFIGS. 2 through 4 and 6) for individual players. In some embodiments,the electronically generated cards may be displayed, for example, toremote players over networks.

In some embodiments, each player may be dealt and allowed to see one setof cards, called player cards. Each set of cards may be dealt to aspecific player, and in one embodiment consists of three cards for eachplayer. In some embodiments, the player cards may only be visible to theindividual player to whom they were dealt. In other embodiments, one,two, or three of the cards may be made visible to both the player towhom they were dealt, and, other players, for example, by dealing themface up. Further embodiments may involve dealing any predetermined orselected number of cards face up, up to and including all the cardsdealt to each individual player.

In some embodiments, community cards available to all the participatingplayers may be dealt face down. For example, the face down cards may besplit between player face down cards and community face down cards, or,may be all player face down cards. When discussing face down cards ascommunity cards, it is understood that other embodiments may involvedealing any combination of player cards face down, community cards facedown, or player and community cards face down, which may be turned faceup during game play.

Prior to revealing any community cards initially dealt face down, afirst check indication (i.e., an indication that a player will not riskany additional amounts at this time, but will stay in the game) or afirst bet indication (e.g., a Play wager) may be received from eachparticipating player, as indicated at 106. The players may make theirdecisions based on their player cards, such as, for example, threeplayer cards dealt face up to each player. If a player chooses to makethe first bet, the first bet may be placed by placing chips on a playbet location 122 on an table top 120 (see FIG. 2). In anotherembodiment, the first check or first bet indication may be received byperceiving a visible or audible indication made by participating player.More specifically, the first check or first bet indication may bereceived, for example, by perceiving physical placement of money orchips, a finger tap, a hand wave, or the spoken words “bet” or “check.”As another example, the first check or first bet indication may bereceived by receiving an electronic signal at a processor 314, 328, or542 (see FIGS. 5 and 8), which electronic signal may be generated fromplayer interaction with a personal interface device 232, 316, 432, 610,614, 618 (see FIGS. 2 through 6). More specifically, the first check orfirst bet indication may be received, for example, by receiving anelectronic signal at a processor 314, 328, or 542 (see FIGS. 5 and 8) ofa server 502, 504, or 506 (see FIG. 7).

The ante wager, any blind wager, and any bonus wagers of players whomake the first check indication, rather than the first bet indication,may remain in play, although the total value of wagers in play forplayers who check may remain unchanged at this stage in the game. Insome embodiments, a player may give a fold indication, which may bereceived by performing a folding action similar to those describedpreviously in connection with the first check and first bet indications.Upon receiving the fold indication, the ante wager and any blind wagerof the folding player is collected by the house, although any bonuswagers may remain in play in some embodiments.

A first Play wager of a first value may be accepted from eachparticipating player who made the first bet indication, as indicated at108. When the first Play wager is accepted, the players may have theleast amount of information available to them, other than when makingthe ante wager and any blind wager. In some embodiments, the first valuepermitted to be placed for the first Play wager may be larger than thevalue of any Play wager permitted to be placed after this point in thegame. In some embodiments, the players may be allowed to select aless-than-maximum amount to bet for the first wager, and a maximumallowed bet amount may be larger than subsequent maximum amounts forPlay bets to be placed later in the game. The first value may be afixed, predetermined quantity, set by the house. As a specific,non-limiting example, the first value may be a multiple of the antewager (e.g., two times, three times, four times, five times, etc.).Structuring the wagering game such that the greatest value Play wager isplaced when players have relatively little information available to themmay entice players to make the first Play wager and may increase revenuefor the house. The first Play wager may be accepted by performing any ofthe actions described previously in connection with the ante wager.

In some embodiments, after a player makes a Play bet (at any stage inthe game) the player may not have any more selections to make and theplayer may wait for the end of the game to determine if there is awinning hand. Put differently, the game play as shown in FIG. 1 allowsplayers to place a Play bet at three points during game play. Placing aPlay bet at any point may preclude placing any further Play bets orelecting to check or fold for the rest of the game; the player has madeall the permitted bets and will now wait until the cards are exposed andany winnings determined.

As indicated at 110, at least one card dealt face down may be revealed.In some embodiments, the at least one card dealt face down that isrevealed may be a community card. For example, at least one face downcard may by physically turned over or may be electronically displayed ona screen or on screens 274, 316, 330, 432, 464, 460, 520, or 558 (seeFIGS. 2 through 8) for each participating player. As a specific,non-limiting example, a first single face down card (e.g., one of threedealt face down) may be revealed. After the face down card is revealed,more information is available to the players on which to base theirwagering decisions.

Either a second check indication or a second Play bet indication may bereceived from each eligible player (which may exclude players who madethe first Play wager, who now wait until the end of the game), asindicated at 112. The second check and second Play bet indications maybe received by performing any of the actions described previously inconnection with the first check and first bet indications. The antewager, any blind wager, and any bonus wagers of players who make thesecond check indication may remain in play, and the total value ofwagers in play for players who check may remain unchanged. In someembodiments, a player may be allowed to give a fold indication, whichmay be received by performing any of the actions described previously inconnection with the first check and first bet indications. Uponreceiving the fold indication, the ante wager and any blind wager of thefolding player is collected by the house, although any bonus wagers mayremain in play in some embodiments.

Although a specific example is being described where only players whomade the first check indication are eligible to make the second betindication, all players who have not yet folded may be eligible to makethe second bet indication in some embodiments.

A second Play wager of a second, lesser value (relative to the firstvalue of the first Play wager) may be accepted from each eligible playerwho made the second bet indication, as indicated at 113. When the secondPlay wager is accepted, the players have more information available tothem than when they made the first check or the first bet indication dueto the fact that an additional card that may be used to form their finalhands has been revealed. The maximum second value of the second Playwager may be less than the maximum first value of the first Play wager.In some embodiments, the amount a player bets is allowed to be less thanthe permitted maximum of the second Play wager.

In some embodiments, the second value may be a fixed, predeterminedquantity set by the house. As a specific, non-limiting example, thesecond value may be a multiple of the ante wager (e.g., one time, twotimes, three times, four times, etc.). Structuring the wagering gamesuch that Play wagers of decreasing value are placed as more informationis made available to the players corresponds with the player's assumedrisk. The second Play wager may be accepted by performing any of theactions described previously in connection with the ante wager.

As indicated at 114, at least another card dealt face down may berevealed. In some embodiments, the at least another card dealt face downthat is revealed may be a community card. For example, at least anotherface down card may by physically turned over or may be electronicallydisplayed on a screen or on screens 274, 316, 330, 432, 464, 460, 520,or 558 (see FIGS. 2 through 8) for each participating player. As aspecific, non-limiting example, a second single face down card (e.g., asecond of three dealt face down) may be revealed. After the face downcard is revealed, more information is available to the players on whichto base their wagering decisions.

A fold indication or a third bet indication may be received from eacheligible player, as indicated at 115. The fold and third bet indicationsmay be received by performing any of the actions described previously inconnection with the first check and first bet indications. Uponreceiving the fold indication, the ante wager and any blind wager of thefolding player is collected by the house, although the bonus wager mayremain in play in some embodiments. In other embodiments, the bonuswagers of players who make the fold indication may also be collected bythe house.

In some embodiments, only players who made the first and second checkindications may be eligible to make the third bet indication. Bylimiting eligibility, the house may reduce the risk that players withinitially very strong hands may wager, and therefore likely win,unacceptably high quantities of money. In other embodiments, all playerswho have not yet folded may be eligible to make the third betindication.

A third Play wager of a third, still lesser value may be accepted fromat least one eligible player who made the third bet indication, asindicated at 116. When the third Play wager is accepted, the players mayhave more information available to them than when they made the firstand second check or bet indications. The third value of the third Playwager may be less than the second value of the second Play wager. Forexample, the maximum value allowed to be placed for the third Play wagermay be the lowest maximum value of any Play wager permitted to be placedduring the wagering game. The third value may be, for example, a fixed,predetermined quantity set by the house. As a specific, non-limitingexample, the third value may be a multiple of the ante wager (e.g., onetime, two times, three times, etc.). Structuring the wagering game suchthat Play wagers of decreasing value are placed as more information ismade available to the players may entice players to make Play wagers andmay increase revenue for the house. The third Play wager may be acceptedby performing any of the actions described previously in connection withthe ante wager.

In some embodiments, at least a third face down card may be revealed, asindicated at 117. As a specific, non-limiting example, a third singleface down card (e.g., a third of three dealt face down) may be revealed.In some embodiments, revealing the third single face down card mayinvolve revealing all remaining face down cards (e.g., where the threeplayer cards and two of the three community cards are face up, and onlyone remaining community card is face down). In some embodiments, thethird face down card that is revealed may be a community card. The facedown card (or cards) may be revealed by performing any of the actionsdescribed previously in connection with revealing the first face downcard. After a final face down card (or cards) is revealed, the wagersmay be resolved.

In some embodiments, the wagering game may be resolved after the thirdface down card is revealed. In other embodiments, subsequent rounds ofreceiving bet or check indications, with the accompanying acceptance ofadditional bets, and revealing face down cards may be administered. Insuch embodiments, players may be permitted to make a third checkindication, rather than fold, after the second face down card isrevealed. As a specific, non-limiting example, players may be permittedto fold or make a fourth bet indication, after which a fourth singleface down card (e.g., a fourth of four dealt face down) may be revealed.The face down card (or cards) may be revealed by performing any of theactions described previously in connection with revealing the first facedown card. After the face down card (or cards) is revealed, moreinformation may be available to the players on which to base theirwagering decisions.

A best hand for each participating player may be identified from cardsavailable to each participating player, as indicated at 118. The handsformed may comprise, for example, hands for poker or a variant of poker(e.g., two-card hands, three-card hands, four-card hands, five-cardhands, etc.) according to poker hand rankings or hands for blackjack ora variant of blackjack (e.g., two-card hands, three-card hands,four-card hands, five-card hands, etc.) according to blackjack handrankings. Identifying the best hand may comprise visually reviewing theavailable cards and announcing the hand or hand rank formed by the cardsor electronically comparing all hands that could possibly be formed bythe available cards using a processor 314, 328, or 542, selecting aparticular group of cards to form the best possible hand given the cardsavailable from which to select if using the processor 314, 328, or 542,and displaying the hand on a screen or on screens 274, 316, 330, 432,464, 460, 520, or 558 for each participating player (see FIGS. 2 through8).

In embodiments where at least one player made the bonus wager, a bestplayer card hand may be identified using only player cards available tothe respective player (i.e., not including community cards). The bestplayer card hand may be identified by performing any of the actionsdescribed previously in connection with the best hand on the cards heldby the individual player and not available to other players.

A payout may be paid on the ante wager, any blind wager, and any Playwagers to each eligible player holding a best hand of a predeterminedrank or higher, as indicated at 119. For example, the best hand held byeach player may be compared to a pay table listing predetermined winninghand rankings to determine whether the player wins the ante, any blindwager, and any Play wagers. More specifically, a player may win the antewager, any blind wager, and any Play wagers when that player's cards andthe community cards are combined to form a five-card poker hand ranked apair of tens or higher. The bases on which the payouts for the antewager, any blind wager, any Play wagers, or any combination of these maybe different from one another. As a specific, non-limiting example, afixed multiple of the ante wager may be awarded (i.e., a fixed payout),an award proportional to the odds of achieving a particular poker handmay be awarded (i.e., an odds payout), or a fixed multiple of any blindwager and any Play wagers with increasing multipliers for less likelyhands may be awarded (i.e., a fixed odds payout). The ante wager, anyblind wager, and any Play wagers may be collected by the house if thebest hand held by a respective player is not of the predetermined rankor higher. The players eligible to receive the payout on the ante wager,any blind wager, and any Play wagers may be those who have not yetfolded. The payout may be paid, for example, by physically giving moneyor a representation of money (e.g., a chip or token) or by grantingelectronic authorization to transfer funds to a player account (e.g., acredit account or a bank account). More specifically, the payout may bepaid, for example, by physically placing chips within a player position122 on a playing surface 120 of a playing table 300 or 400 (see FIGS. 2,3, 5, and 6) or by granting electronic authorization at a processor 314,328, or 542 to transfer funds from an account server 510 to a playeraccount (see FIGS. 5, 7, and 8).

A payout may be paid on the bonus wager to each eligible player holdinga best player card hand of a predetermined rank or higher. For example,the best player card hand held by each eligible player may be comparedto a pay table listing predetermined winning hand rankings to determinewhether the player wins the bonus wager. More specifically, a player maywin the bonus wager when that player's cards are combined to form athree-card poker hand ranked a pair or higher (i.e., a “pair plus”). Thebonus wager of each eligible player whose individual player cards arenot combinable to form a best player card hand of the predetermined rankor higher may be collected by the house. The players eligible to receivethe payout on the bonus wager may be all players who made the bonuswager, regardless of whether they have folded in some embodiments. Inother embodiments, a player must have made the bonus wager and not havefolded in order to receive the payout on the bonus wager. A payout onthe bonus wager may be paid by performing any of the actions describedpreviously in connection with the payout on the ante and Play wagers.Losing wagers may be collected by the house, which may involve, forexample, physically taking money or representations of money orauthorizing a transfer of funds from a player account to a houseaccount.

Various platforms are contemplated that are suitable for implementationof embodiments of wagering games according to the present disclosure.For example, embodiments of wagering games may be implemented such thatone or more players may place wagers and engage in game play accordingto the rules of the wagering games. For example, wagering games may beimplemented on gaming tables, which may include physical gamingfeatures, such as physical cards, physical chips, and may include a livedealer. More specifically, a live dealer may deal physical cards, acceptwagers, issue payouts, and perform other administrative functions ofgame play. Some embodiments may be implemented on electronic devicesenabling electronic gaming features, such as providing electronicdisplays for display of virtual cards, virtual chips, game instructions,paytables, etc. Some embodiments may include features that are acombination of physical and electronic features.

As an example, embodiments of wagering games may be implemented on anindividual gaming device for accepting wagers that has a display screenand inputs for enabling game play of the wagering games. Such anindividual gaming device may be linked with other gaming devices thatmay be operated, for example, by other players. Some individualelectronic gaming devices may be referred to as an individual player“cabinet” and may be stationary, such as being located on a casinofloor. Other individual electronic gaming devices may be portabledevices that may be carried to different locations by the player.Portable devices may include both display of the ongoing game play andinput reception for game play by a player, may be configured forreceiving input from a player while the game play is displayed on apublic monitor, or other display device.

Referring to FIG. 2, a diagram of a playing surface 120 forimplementation of wagering games within the scope of the presentdisclosure is shown. Such an implementation may comprise a felt layouton a physical gaming table 300 or 400 (see FIGS. 5 and 6) or anelectronic representation on a video display 274, 316, 330, 432, 464,460, 520, or 558 for each participating player position 122 (see FIGS. 2through 8). The playing surface 120 may define a plurality ofparticipating player positions 122 within which the activity (e.g.,wagering and card dealing) for individual players may take place. Theplaying surface 120 may also define a community card position 124 withinwhich community cards may be dealt. For example, the community cardposition 124 may comprise a first card area 126, a second card area 128,and a third card area 130 into which individual community cards may bedealt. The playing surface 120 may further define a player card position132 within which player cards may be dealt for each player position 122.

Referring to FIG. 3, an enlarged diagram of one of the player positions122 of FIG. 2 is shown. Each player position 122 may further define anante wager position 134 within which representations of money may beplaced or displayed when the first wager is accepted. In embodimentswhere players make an ante wager and a blind wager, each player position122 may define an initial ante position 134 and a blind wager position136. Each player position may define a Play wager position 138 withinwhich representations of money may be placed or displayed when thefirst, second, third, and any other Play wagers are accepted and a bonuswager position 140 within which representations of money may be placedor displayed when the bonus wager is accepted.

With combined reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, a specific implementation ofthe wagering game described in connection with FIG. 1 is presented. Aninitial ante wager and a blind wager may be accepted from eachparticipating player position 122 by receiving chips in the anteposition 134 and the blind wager position 136. For example,participating players may be required to place chips of equal value inthe ante position 134 and the blind wager position 136, respectively.Bonus wagers may, optionally, be accepted by receiving chips in thebonus wager position 140. For example, at least one participating playermay exercise the option to place chips in the bonus wager position 140.Three player cards may be dealt to the player card position 132 of eachparticipating player position 122, face up. Three community cards may bedealt to the community card position 124, face down, with a respectivecard in each of the first card area 126, the second card area 128, andthe third card area 130.

A first check indication or a first bet indication may be received fromeach participating player. For example, at least one player may make thefirst check indication by waving his or her hand, and at least oneplayer may make the first bet indication by placing a chip of up tothree times the value of the initial ante into the Play wager position138, which may also constitute accepting the first Play wager. Aftereach participating player has checked, made the first Play wager, orfolded, the face down community card in the first card area 126 may berevealed.

A second check indication or a second bet indication may be receivedfrom each eligible player. Only those players who made the first checkindication may be eligible to make the second check indication or thesecond bet indication. For example, at least one player may make thesecond check indication by waving his or her hand, and at least oneplayer may make the second bet indication by placing a chip of up to twotimes the value of the initial ante into the Play wager position 138,which may also constitute accepting the second Play wager. After eachparticipating player has checked, made the second Play wager, or folded,the face down community card in the second card area 128 may berevealed.

A fold indication or a third bet indication may be received from eacheligible player. Only those players who made the first and second checkindications may be eligible to make the third bet indication. Forexample, at least one player may make the fold indication by waving hisor her hand, and at least one player may make the third bet indicationby placing a chip of equal value to the initial ante into the Play wagerposition 138, which may also constitute accepting the third Play wager.The ante and blind wagers of any players who folded may be collected bythe house. After each participating player has made a Play wager orfolded, the face down community card in the third card area 130 may berevealed.

A best five-card poker hand may be identified for each participatingplayer who made one of the first, second, and third Play wagers usingfive of the six total cards available to the players: three player cardsavailable to respective individual players and the three community cardsavailable to all players. A best three-card poker hand may be identifiedfor each participating player who made the bonus wager using only thethree player cards available to respective individual players.

Payouts may be paid on the initial ante wager, blind wager, and Playwagers to players whose best five-card poker hand is a pair of tens orbetter. For example a payout equal to the value of the initial ante maybe paid on the initial ante. A fixed odds payout on the blind wager maybe paid, for example, according to the following paytable:

Best Hand Achieved Payout Royal Flush 1,000 to 1    Straight Flush 200to 1  Four-of-a-Kind 30 to 1  Full House 4 to 1 Flush 3 to 1 Straight 2to 1 Three-of-a-Kind 1 to 1 Pair of Tens or Better Push

A fixed odds payout on the Play wager may be paid, for example,according to the following paytable:

Best Hand Achieved Payout Royal Flush 100 to 1  Straight Flush 20 to 1 Four-of-a-Kind 10 to 1  Full House 6 to 1 Flush 5 to 1 Straight 4 to 1Three-of-a-Kind 3 to 1 Two Pair 2 to 1 Pair of Tens or Better 1 to 1

A payout may be paid on the bonus wager to each player who made thebonus wager and achieved a best three-card poker hand of a predeterminedrank or higher, regardless of whether that player folded on the initialante and the blind wager. For example, a fixed odds payout on the bonuswager may be paid according to the following paytable:

Best Hand Achieved Payout Straight Flush 40 to 1  Three-of-a-Kind 30 to1  Straight 6 to 1 Flush 3 to 1 Pair 1 to 1

Referring to FIG. 4, an example of an individual electronic gamingdevice 200 configured for implementation of embodiments of wageringgames according to the present disclosure is shown. The individualelectronic gaming device 200 may include an individual player position214 that includes a player area 232 for a player to interact with theindividual electronic gaming device 200. The electronic gaming device200 may include a gaming screen 274 configured to display indicia forinteracting with the individual electronic gaming device 200, such asthrough processing one or more stored programs to implement the rules ofgame play at the individual electronic gaming device 200. Accordingly,game play may be accommodated without involving physical playing cards,poker chips, and/or live personnel. The action may instead be simulatedby a control processor (not shown) interacting with and controlling theindividual electronic gaming device 200. Although the figure has anoutline of a traditional gaming cabinet, gaming device 200 may beimplemented in any number of ways, including but not limited to clientsoftware downloaded to a portable device, such as a smart phone, tablet,or laptop personal computer. Gaming device 200 may also be anon-portable personal computer (e.g., a desktop or all-in-one computer)or other computing device. In some embodiments, client software is notdownloaded but is native to the device, or otherwise delivered with thedevice when received by a player.

The gaming screen 274 may be carried by a generally vertically extendingcabinet 276 of the individual electronic gaming device 200. Theindividual electronic gaming device 200 may further include banners (notshown) configured to communicate rules of game play and/or the like,such as along a top portion 278 of the cabinet 276 of the gaming device200. The individual electronic gaming device 200 may further includeadditional decorative lights (not shown), and speakers (not shown) fortransmitting and/or receiving sounds during game play. Further detail ofan example of an individual electronic gaming device (as well as otherembodiments of tables and devices) is disclosed in U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/215,156, filed Aug. 22, 2011, and titled“Methods of Managing Play of Wagering Games and Systems for ManagingPlay of Wagering Games,” the disclosure of which is incorporated hereinin its entirety by this reference.

Some embodiments may be implemented at locations that include aplurality of player stations. Such player stations may include anelectronic display screen for display of game information, such asdisplaying virtual cards, virtual chips, and game instructions, and foraccepting wagers and facilitating credit balance adjustments. Suchplayer stations may, optionally, be integrated in a table format. Whilesome features may be automated through electronic interfaces (e.g.,virtual cards, virtual chips, etc.), some features may remain in thephysical domain. As such, the game play may be administered by a livedealer, a virtual dealer, or a combination of both.

Referring to FIG. 5, an example of a suitable table 300 configured forimplementation of embodiments of wagering games according to the presentdisclosure is shown. The table 300 may include a playing surface 304.The table 300 may include a plurality of player stations 312 a-312 g.Each player station 312 a-312 g may include a player interface 316 a-316g, which may be used for display of game information (e.g., gameinstructions, input options, wager information including virtual chips,game outcomes, etc.). The player interface 316 a-316 g may include adisplay screen in the form of a touch screen, which may be at leastsubstantially flush with the playing surface 304 in some embodiments.Each player interface 316 a-316 g may be coupled respectively with itsown game processor 314 a-314 g (shown in dashed lines), although in someembodiments, a central game processor 328 (shown in dashed lines) may beemployed. In some embodiments, a combination of individual gameprocessors 314 a-314 g and a central game processor 328 may be employed.

The table 300 may further include additional features, such as a dealerchip tray 320, which may be used by the dealer to cash players in andout of the wagering game, whereas wagers and balance adjustments duringgame play may be performed using virtual chips. For embodiments usingphysical cards 306 a, 306 b, the table 300 may further include a cardhandling device 322 that may be configured to shuffle, read, and deliverphysical cards for the dealer and players to use during game play or,alternatively, a card shoe configured to read and deliver cards thathave already been randomized. For embodiments using virtual cards, suchvirtual cards may be displayed at the individual player interfaces 316a-316 g. Common virtual cards may be displayed in a common card area(not shown).

The table 300 may further include a dealer interface 318, which, likethe player interfaces 314 a-314 g, may include touch screen controls forassisting the dealer in administering the wagering game. The table 300may further include an upright display 330 configured to display imagesthat depict game information such as paytables, hand counts, historicalwin/loss information by player, and a wide variety of other informationconsidered useful to the players. The upright display 330 may be doublesided to provide such information to players as well as to the casinopit.

Further detail of an example of a table and player displays is disclosedin U.S. Patent Application Pub. No. 2010/0016050, filed Jul. 15, 2008,and titled “Split Screen on a Chipless Gaming Table,” the disclosure ofwhich is incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference. Althoughan embodiment is described showing individual discrete player stations,in some embodiments, the entire playing surface 304 may be an electronicdisplay that is logically partitioned to permit game play from aplurality of players for receiving inputs from, and displaying gameinformation to, the players, the dealer, or both.

Referring to FIG. 6, another example of a suitable table 400 configuredfor implementation of embodiments of wagering games having a virtualdealer according to the present disclosure is shown. The table 400 mayinclude player positions 414 that are arranged in a bank about anarcuate edge 420 of a video device 458 that may comprise a card screen464 and a dealer screen 460. The dealer screen 460 may display a videosimulation of the dealer (i.e., a virtual dealer) for interacting withthe video device 458, such as through processing one or more storedprograms to implement the rules of game play at the video device 458.The dealer screen 460 may be carried by a generally vertically extendingcabinet 462 of the video device 458. The card screen 464 may beconfigured to display at least one or more of the dealer's cards,community cards, and/or player's cards by the virtual dealer on thedealer screen 460 (virtual dealer not shown in FIG. 6).

Each of the player positions 414 a-414 e may include a player area 432a-432 e which is configured for wagering and game play interactions withthe video device 458 and/or virtual dealer. Accordingly, game play maybe accommodated without involving physical playing cards, poker chips,and/or live personnel. The action may instead be simulated by a controlprocessor (not shown) interacting with and controlling the video device458. The control processor may be located internally within, orotherwise proximate to, the video device 458. The control processor maybe programmed, by known techniques, to implement the rules of game playat the video device 458. As such, the control processor may interact andcommunicate with display/input interfaces and data entry inputs for eachplayer area 432 a-432 e of the video device 458. Other embodiments oftables and gaming devices may include a control processor that may besimilarly adapted to the specific configuration of its associateddevice.

The video device 458 may further include banners (not shown) configuredto communicate rules of play and/or the like, which may be located alongone or more walls 470 of the cabinet 462. The video device 458 mayfurther include additional decorative lights (not shown) and speakers(not shown), which may be located on an underside surface 466, forexample, of a generally horizontally depending top 468 of the cabinet462 of the video device 458 generally extending towards the playerpositions 414 a-414 e.

Further detail of an example of a table and player displays is disclosedin U.S. Patent Application Pub. No. 2005/0164762, filed Jan. 26, 2004,and titled “Automated Multiplayer Game table with Unique Image Feed ofDealer,” the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entiretyby this reference. Although an embodiment is described showingindividual discrete player stations, in some embodiments, the entireplaying surface (e.g., player areas 432 a-432 e, card display 464, etc.)may be an electronic display that is logically partitioned to permitgame play from a plurality of players for receiving inputs from, anddisplaying game information to, the players, the dealer, or both.

Wagering games in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure may beadministered over the Internet, or otherwise online, in one embodimentusing a gaming system employing a client server architecture. Referringto FIG. 7, a schematic block diagram of a gaming system 500 forimplementing wagering games according to an embodiment is shown. Thegaming system 500 enables end users to access proprietary and/ornon-proprietary game content. Such game content may include, withoutlimitation, various types of wagering games such as card games, dicegames, big wheel games, roulette, scratch off games (“scratchers”), andany other wagering game where the game outcome is determined, in wholeor in part, by one or more random events. This includes, but is not belimited to, Class II and Class III games as defined under 25 U.S.C.§2701 et seq. (“Indian Gaming Regulatory Act”). Such games may includebanked and/or non-banked games.

The wagering games supported by the gaming system 500 may be operatedwith real currency or with virtual credits or other virtual (e.g.,electronic) value indicia. For example, the real currency option may beused with traditional casino and lottery-type wagering games in whichmoney or other items of value are wagered and may be cashed out at theend of a game session. The virtual credits option may be used withwagering games in which credits (or other symbols) may be issued to aplayer to be used for the wagers. A player may be credited with creditsin any way allowed, including but not limited to a player purchasingcredits, being awarded credits as part of a contest or a win event inthis or another game (including non-wagering games), being awardedcredits as a reward for use of a product, casino or other enterprise,time played in one session, games played, or may be as simple as virtualcredits upon logging in at a particular time or with a particularfrequency, etc. Although credits may be won or lost, the ability of theplayer to cash out credits may be controlled or prevented. In oneexample, credits acquired (e.g., purchased or awarded) for use in a playfor fun game may be limited to non-monetary redemption items, awards, orcredits usable in the future or for another game or gaming session. Thesame credit redemption restrictions may be applied to some or all ofcredits won in a wagering game as well.

An additional variation includes sites having both play for fun andwagering games, including issuance of free credits usable to play theplay for fun games. This may attract players to the site and to thegames before they engage in wagering. In some embodiments, a limitednumber free or promotional credits may be issued to entice players toplay the games. Another method of issuing credits includes free creditsin exchange for identifying friends who may want to play. In anotherembodiment, additional credits may be issued after a period of time haselapsed to encourage the player to resume playing the game. The systemmay enable players to buy additional game credits to allow the player toresume play. Objects of value may be awarded to play for fun players,which may or may not be in a direct exchange for credits. For example, aprize may be awarded or won for a highest scoring play for fun playerduring a defined time interval. All variations of credit redemption arecontemplated, as desired by game designers and game hosts (the person orentity controlling the hosting systems).

The gaming system 500 may include a gaming platform that establishes aportal for an end user to access a wagering game hosted by a game server506 through a user interaction server 502. The user device 520 maycommunicate with a user interaction server 502 of the gaming system 500using a network 530 (e.g., the Internet). The user interaction server502 may communicate with the game server 506 and provide gameinformation to the user. In some embodiments, the game server 506 mayalso be a game engine. In some embodiments, a single user devicecommunicates with a game provided by the game server 506, while otherembodiments may include a plurality of user devices 520 configured tocommunicate and provide end users with access to the same game providedby game server 506. In addition, a plurality of end users may access asingle user interaction server 502, or, a plurality of user interactionservers 502 to access game server 506.

The user interaction server 502 may communicate with the user device 520to enable access to the gaming system 500. The user interaction server502 may enable a user to create and access a user account and interactwith gaming server 506. The user interaction server 502 may enable usersto initiate new games, join existing games, and interface with gamesbeing played by the user.

The user interaction server 502 may also provide a client 522 forexecution on the user device for accessing the gaming system 500. Theclient 522 provided by the gaming system 500 for execution on the userdevice 520 can comprise a variety of implementations according to theuser device and method of communication with the gaming system 500. Inone embodiment, the user device 520 connects to the gaming system 500using a web browser and the client 522 executes within a browser windowor frame of the web browser. In another embodiment, the client 522 is astand-alone executable on the user device 520.

In one embodiment, the client 522 may comprise a relatively small amountof script (e.g., JavaScript®), also referred to as a “script driver,”including scripting language that controls an interface of the client522. The script driver may include simple function calls requestinginformation from the gaming system 500. In other words, the scriptdriver stored in the client 522 may merely include calls to functionsthat are externally defined by, and executed by, the gaming system 500.As a result, the client 522 may be characterized as a “thin client.” Asthat term is used herein, the client 522 may be little more than ascript player. The client 522 may simply send requests to the gamingsystem 500 rather than performing logic itself. The client 522 receivesplayer inputs and the player inputs are passed to gaming system 500 forprocessing and executing the wagering game. In one embodiment, thisincludes providing specific graphical display information to client 522as well as game outcomes.

In other embodiments, the client 522 comprises an executable rather thana script. In that case, client 522 may do more local processing thandoes a script driver, such as calculating where to show what gamesymbols upon receiving a game outcome from game server 506 through userinteraction server 502. In one embodiment, it may be that portions ofasset server 504 are loaded onto the client 522, and used by the clientin processing and updating graphical displays. Due to security andintegrity concerns, most embodiments will have the bulk of theprocessing of the game play performed in the gaming system 500. However,some embodiments may include significant game processing by client 522when the client and user device 520 are considered trustworthy, or, whenthere is reduced concern for security and integrity in the displayedgame outcome. In most embodiments, it is expected that some form of dataprotection, such as end-to-end encryption, will be used when data istransported over network 530. Network 530 may be any network, includingbut not limited to the Internet.

In an embodiment where the client 522 implements further logic and gamecontrol methodology beyond the thin client, the client 522 may parse anddefine player interactions prior to passing the player interactions tothe gaming system 500. Likewise, when the client 522 receives a gaminginteraction from the gaming system 500, the client 522 may be configuredto determine how to modify the display as a result of the gaminginteraction. The client 522 may also allow the player to change aperspective or otherwise interact with elements of the display which donot change aspects of the game.

The gaming system 500 may include an asset server 504 which may hostvarious media assets (e.g., audio, video, and image files) that may besent to the client 522 for presenting the various wagering games to theend user. In other words, in this embodiment the assets presented to theend user may be stored separately from the client 522. In oneembodiment, the client 522 requests the assets appropriate for the gameplayed by the user; in other embodiments, especially those using thinclients, just those assets that are needed for a particular displayevent will be sent by game server 500 when the game server determinesthey are needed, including as few as one asset. In one example, theclient 522 may call a function defined at the user interaction server502 or asset server 504 which may determine which assets are to bedelivered to the client 522 as well as how the assets are to bepresented by the client 522 to the end user. Different assets maycorrespond to the various clients that may have access to the gameserver 506 or to different games to be played.

The game server 506 is configured to perform game play methods anddetermine game play outcomes that are provided to the user interactionserver 502 to be transmitted to user device 520 for display on the enduser's computer. For example, the game server 506 may include game rulesfor one or more wagering games, such that the game server 506 controlssome or all of the game flow for a selected wagering game, as well asthe determining game outcomes. Game server 506 may include paytables andother game logic. The game server 506 also performs random numbergeneration for determining random game elements of the wagering game. Inone embodiment, the game server 506 is separated from the userinteraction server 502 by a firewall or other method of preventingunauthorized access to the game server 506 from the general members ofthe network 530.

The user device 520 may present a gaming interface to the player andcommunicate the user interaction to the gaming system 500. The userdevice 520 may be any electronic system capable of displaying gaminginformation, receiving user input, and communicating the user input tothe gaming system 500. As such, the user device 520 can be a desktopcomputer, a laptop, tablet computer, set-top box, mobile deviceincluding but not limited to smart phones, kiosk, terminal, or othercomputing device. The user device 520 may operate the client 522 forconnecting to the interactive gaming system 200 as described above. Theclient 522 may be a specialized application or may be executed within ageneralized application capable of interpreting instructions from theinteractive gaming system 500, such as a web browser.

The client 522 may interface with an end user through a web page, or anapplication that runs on a device including but not limited to asmartphone, tablet, or general computer, or be any other computerprogram configurable to access the gaming system 500. The client 522 maybe illustrated within a casino webpage (or other interface) indicatingthat the client 522 is embedded into a webpage, which is supported by aweb browser executing on the client device 520.

In one embodiment, the gaming system 500 may be operated by differententities. The user device 520 may be operated by a third party, such asa casino or an individual, that links to the gaming system 500, whichmay be operated, for example, by a wagering game service provider.Therefore, in some embodiments, the user device 520 and client 522 maybe operated by a different administrator than the operator of the gameserver 506. In other words, the user device 520 may be part of athird-party system that does not administer or otherwise control thegaming system 500 or game server 506. In another embodiment, the userinteraction server 502 and asset server 504 are provided by athird-party system. For example, a gaming entity (e.g., a casino) mayoperate the user interaction server 502 or user device 520 to provideits customers access to game content managed by a different entity whichmay control game server 506, amongst other functionality. In someembodiments, these functions are operated by the same administrator. Forexample, a gaming entity (e.g., a casino) may elect to perform each ofthese functions in-house, such as providing both the access to the userdevice 520 and the actual game content and providing administration ofthe gaming system 500.

The gaming system 500 may communicate with external account servers 510,optionally through another firewall. For example, the gaming system 500itself may not directly accept wagers or issue payouts. That is, thegaming system 500 may facilitate online casino gaming, but may not bepart of a self-contained online casino itself. Instead, the gamingsystem 500 may facilitate the play of wagering games owned andcontrolled by a company offering games and gaming products and services,such as Shuffle Master, Inc. Another entity (e.g., a casino or anyaccount holder or financial system of record) may operate and maintainits external account servers 510 to accept bets and make payoutdistributions. The gaming system 500 may communicate with the accountservers 510 to verify the existence of funds for wagering, and instructthe account server 510 to execute debits and credits.

In some embodiments, the gaming system 500 may directly accept bets andmake payout distributions, such as in the case where an administrator ofthe gaming system 500 operates as a casino. As discussed above, thegaming system 500 may be integrated within the operations of a casinorather than separating out functionality (e.g., game content, game play,credits, debits, etc.) among different entities. In addition, for playfor fun wagering games, the gaming system 500 may issue credits, takebets, and manage the balance of the credits according to the gameoutcomes, but may not permit payout distributions or be linked toaccount server 510 that permits payout distributions. Such credits maybe issued for free, through purchase, or for other reasons, without theability for the player to cash out. Such play for fun wagering games maybe played on platforms that do not permit traditional gambling, such asto comply with jurisdictions that do not permit online gambling.

The gaming system 500 may be configured in many ways, from a fullyintegrated single system to a distributed server architecture. The assetserver 504, user interaction server 502, game server 506, and accountserver 510 may be configured as a single, integrated system of codemodules running on a single server or machine, where each of the serversis functionality implemented on a single machine. In such a case, thefunctionality described herein may not be implemented as separate codemodules. The asset server 504, user interaction server 502, game server506, and account server 510 may also be implemented as a plurality ofindependent servers, each using its own code modules running on aseparate physical machine, and may further include one or more firewallsbetween selected servers (depending on security needs). Each servercould communicate over some kind of networked connection, potentially asvaried as that described for network 530. Further, each single servershown in FIG. 7 may be implemented as a plurality of servers with loadbalancing and scalability factors built into the embodiment. All suchembodiments and variations are fully contemplated.

Additional features may be supported by the game server 506, such ashacking and cheating detection, data storage and archival, metricsgeneration, messages generation, output formatting for different enduser devices, as well as other features and operations. For example, thegaming system 500 may include additional features and configurations asdescribed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/353,194, filed Jan. 18,2012, and titled “Network Gaming Architecture, Gaming Systems, andRelated Methods,” which is incorporated by reference herein in itsentirety by this reference.

The network 530 may enable communications between the user device 520and the gaming system 500. A network (not shown) may also connect thegaming system 500 and account server 510, and further one or morenetworks may interconnect one or more of the other servers showncollectively as game system 500. In one embodiment, the network 530 usesstandard communications technologies and/or protocols. Thus, the network530 can include links using technologies such as Ethernet, 802.11,worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX), 3G, digitalsubscriber line (DSL), asynchronous transfer mode (ATM), InfiniBand, PCIExpress Advanced Switching, etc. Similarly, the networking protocolsused on the network 530 can include multiprotocol label switching(MPLS), the transmission control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP),the User Datagram Protocol (UDP), the hypertext transport protocol(HTTP), the simple mail transfer protocol (SMTP), the file transferprotocol (FTP), etc. The data exchanged over the network 530 can berepresented using technologies and/or formats including the hypertextmarkup language (HTML), the extensible markup language (XML), etc. Inaddition, all or some of links can be encrypted using conventionalencryption technologies such as secure sockets layer (SSL), transportlayer security (TLS), virtual private networks (VPNs), Internet Protocolsecurity (IPsec), etc. In another embodiment, the entities can usecustom and/or dedicated data communications technologies instead of, orin addition to, the ones described above. Depending upon the embodiment,the network 530 can include links comprising one or more networks suchas the Internet.

Referring to FIG. 8, a high-level block diagram of a computer 540 foracting as a gaming system 500 according to one embodiment is shown.Illustrated are at least one processor 542 coupled to a chipset 544.Also coupled to the chipset 544 are a memory 546, a storage device 548,a keyboard 550, a graphics adapter 552, a pointing device 554, and anetwork adapter 556. A display 558 is coupled to the graphics adapter552. In one embodiment, the functionality of the chipset 544 is providedby a memory controller hub 560 and an I/O controller hub 562. In anotherembodiment, the memory 546 is coupled directly to the processor 542instead of the chipset 544.

The storage device 548 is any non-transitory computer-readable storagemedium, such as a hard drive, compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM),DVD, or a solid-state memory device (e.g., a flash drive). The memory546 holds instructions and data used by the processor 542. The pointingdevice 554 may be a mouse, track ball, or other type of pointing device,and is used in combination with the keyboard 550 to input data into thecomputer system 540. The graphics adapter 552 displays images and otherinformation on the display 558. The network adapter 556 couples thecomputer system 540 to a local or wide area network.

As is known in the art, a computer 540 can have different and/or othercomponents than those shown in FIG. 8. In addition, the computer 540 canlack certain illustrated components. In one embodiment, a computer 540acting as a gaming system 500 lacks a keyboard 550, pointing device 554,graphics adapter 552, and/or display 558. Moreover, the storage device548 can be local and/or remote from the computer 540 (such as embodiedwithin a storage area network (SAN)).

The gaming system 500 may comprise several such computers 540. Thegaming system 500 may include load balancers, firewalls, and variousother components for assisting the gaming system 500 to provide servicesto a variety of user devices.

As is known in the art, the computer 540 is adapted to execute computerprogram modules for providing functionality described herein. As usedherein, the term “module” refers to computer program logic utilized toprovide the specified functionality. Thus, a module can be implementedin hardware, firmware, and/or software. In one embodiment, programmodules are stored on the storage device 548, loaded into the memory546, and executed by the processor 542.

Embodiments of the entities described herein can include other and/ordifferent modules than the ones described here. In addition, thefunctionality attributed to the modules can be performed by other ordifferent modules in other embodiments. Moreover, this descriptionoccasionally omits the term “module” for purposes of clarity andconvenience.

Some portions of the detailed description are presented in terms ofalgorithms and symbolic representations of operations on data bitswithin a computer memory. These algorithmic descriptions andrepresentations are the means used by those skilled in the dataprocessing arts to most effectively convey the substance of their workto others skilled in the art. An algorithm is here, and generally,conceived to be a self-consistent sequence of steps (instructions)leading to a desired result. The steps are those requiring physicalmanipulations of physical quantities. Usually, though not necessarily,these quantities take the form of electrical, magnetic, or opticalsignals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared, andotherwise manipulated. It is convenient at times, principally forreasons of common usage, to refer to these signals as bits, values,elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers, or the like. Furthermore,it is also convenient at times to refer to certain arrangements of stepsrequiring physical manipulations or transformation of physicalquantities or representations of physical quantities as modules or codedevices, without loss of generality.

However, all of these and similar terms are to be associated with theappropriate physical quantities and are merely convenient labels appliedto these quantities. Unless specifically stated otherwise as apparentfrom the following discussion, it is appreciated that throughout thedescription, discussions utilizing terms such as “processing,”“computing,” “calculating,” “determining,” “displaying,” “determining,”or the like, refer to the action and processes of a computer system, orsimilar electronic computing device (such as a specific computingmachine), that manipulates and transforms data represented as physical(electronic) quantities within the computer system memories or registersor other such information storage, transmission or display devices.

Certain aspects of the embodiments include process steps andinstructions described herein in the form of an algorithm. It should benoted that the process steps and instructions of the embodiments can beembodied in software, firmware, or hardware, and when embodied insoftware, could be downloaded to reside on and be operated fromdifferent platforms used by a variety of operating systems. Theembodiments can also be in a computer program product which can beexecuted on a computing system.

Some embodiments also relate to an apparatus for performing theoperations herein. Such an apparatus may be specially constructed forthe purposes, e.g., a specific computer, or it may comprise ageneral-purpose computer selectively activated or reconfigured by acomputer program stored in the computer. Such a computer program may bestored in a computer-readable storage medium, such as, but is notlimited to, any type of disk including floppy disks, optical disks,CD-ROMs, magnetic-optical disks, read-only memories (ROMs), randomaccess memories (RAMs), EPROMs, EEPROMs, magnetic or optical cards,application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), or any type of mediasuitable for storing electronic instructions, and each coupled to acomputer system bus. Memory can include any of the above and/or otherdevices that can store information/data/programs and can be transient ornon-transient medium, where a non-transient or non-transitory medium caninclude memory/storage that stores information for more than a minimalduration. Furthermore, the computers referred to in the specificationmay include a single processor or may be architectures employingmultiple processor designs for increased computing capability.

The algorithms and displays presented herein are not inherently relatedto any particular computer or other apparatus. Various general-purposesystems may also be used with programs in accordance with the teachingsherein, or it may prove convenient to construct more specializedapparatus to perform the method steps. The structure for a variety ofthese systems will appear from the description herein. In addition, theembodiments are not described with reference to any particularprogramming language. It will be appreciated that a variety ofprogramming languages may be used to implement the teachings of theembodiments as described herein, and any references herein to specificlanguages are provided for disclosure of enablement and best mode.

Additional, non-limiting example embodiments include the following:

Embodiment 1

A method of administering a wagering game may comprise accepting an antewager from each participating player. Player cards may be dealt to eachparticipating player, face up. At least three community cards may bedealt, face down. A first check indication or a first bet indication maybe received from each participating player and a first Play wager of afirst, greatest value may be accepted from each participating player whomade the first bet indication. A first community card of the at leastthree community cards may be revealed. A second check indication or asecond bet indication may be received from each eligible player and asecond Play wager of a second, intermediate value may be accepted fromeach eligible player who made the second bet indication. A secondcommunity card of the at least three community cards may be revealed. Afold indication or a third bet indication may be received from eacheligible player and a third Play wager of a third, least value may beaccepted from each eligible player who made the third bet indication. Athird community card of the at least three community cards may berevealed. A best hand for each eligible player may be identified fromthe player cards and the at least three community cards. A first payoutmay be paid on a first basis for the ante wager and a second payout maybe paid on a second, different basis for any Play wager to each eligibleplayer holding a best hand of a predetermined rank or higher.

Embodiment 2

The method of Embodiment 1, further comprising: dealing at least oneadditional community card, face down; receiving a third check indicationfrom at least one player; administering at least one subsequent round ofreceiving check indications or bet indications, with accompanyingacceptance of Play wagers of reducing value with each passing round fromplayers who make the bet indications; and revealing a face down card.

Embodiment 3

The method of Embodiment 1 or Embodiment 2, wherein paying the first andsecond payouts to each participating player holding a best hand of thepredetermined rank or higher comprises paying the first and secondpayouts to each eligible player holding a pair of tens or better.

Embodiment 4

The method of any one of Embodiments 1 through 3, wherein paying thefirst payout on the ante wager and the second, different payout on anyPlay wager comprises paying an even-money payout on the ante wager andpaying a Play fixed odds payout based on a paytable, with increasingamounts being paid for higher ranked hands, on any Play wager.

Embodiment 5

The method of Embodiment 4, further comprising accepting a blind wagerfrom each participating player when accepting the ante wager and payinga blind fixed odds payout based on a different, blind wager paytable,with increasing amounts being paid for higher ranked hands, on the blindwager to each eligible player holding a best hand of the predeterminedrank or higher.

Embodiment 6

The method of Embodiment 5, further comprising accepting a bonus wagerfrom at least one participating player, forming a best player card handof only player cards held by the at least one player, and paying a bonusfixed odds payout based on a different, bonus wager paytable, withincreasing amounts being paid for higher ranked hands, on the bonuswager to the at least one participating player if the best player cardhand is of another predetermined rank or higher.

Embodiment 7

The method of Embodiment 6, wherein paying the bonus fixed odds payoutto the at least one participating player if the best player card hand isof the another predetermined rank or higher comprises paying the bonusfixed odds payout if the best player card hand is a pair or better.

Embodiment 8

The method of Embodiment 6 or Embodiment 7, wherein paying the bonusfixed odds payout to the at least one participating player if the bestplayer card hand is of the another predetermined rank or highercomprises paying the bonus fixed odds payout regardless of whether theat least one player has folded on the ante wager and any play wagers.

Embodiment 9

The method of any one of Embodiments 6 through 8, wherein paying thePlay fixed odds payout, the blind fixed odds payout, and the bonus fixedodds payout comprises paying according to the following paytables foreach respective wager:

Best Hand Achieved Play Wager Payout Royal Flush 100 to 1  StraightFlush 20 to 1  Four-of-a-Kind 10 to 1  Full House 6 to 1 Flush 5 to 1Straight 4 to 1 Three-of-a-Kind 3 to 1 Two Pair 2 to 1 Pair of Tens orBetter 1 to 1

Best Hand Achieved Blind Wager Payout Royal Flush 1,000 to 1    StraightFlush 200 to 1  Four-of-a-Kind 30 to 1  Full House 4 to 1 Flush 3 to 1Straight 2 to 1 Three-of-a-Kind 1 to 1 Pair of Tens or Better Push;and

Best Hand Achieved Bonus Wager Payout Straight Flush 40 to 1 Three-of-a-Kind 30 to 1  Straight 6 to 1 Flush 3 to 1 Pair 1 to 1

Embodiment 10

The method of Embodiment 4, further comprising accepting a bonus wagerfrom at least one participating player, forming a best player card handof only player cards held by the at least one player, and paying a bonusfixed odds payout based on a different, bonus wager paytable, withincreasing amounts being paid for higher ranked hands, on the bonuswager to the at least one participating player if the best player cardhand is of another predetermined rank or higher.

Embodiment 11

The method of Embodiment 10, wherein paying the bonus fixed odds payoutto the at least one participating player if the best player card hand isof the another predetermined rank or higher comprises paying the bonusfixed odds payout if the best player card hand is a pair or better.

Embodiment 12

The method of Embodiment 10 or Embodiment 11, wherein paying the bonusfixed odds payout to the at least one participating player if the bestplayer card hand is of the another predetermined rank or highercomprises paying the bonus payout regardless of whether the at least oneplayer has folded on the ante wager and any play wagers.

Embodiment 13

The method of any one of Embodiments 1 through 12, further comprisingtaking the ante wager of each participating player who did not make atleast one of the first, second, and third play wagers.

Embodiment 14

A method of administering a wagering game may comprise accepting an antewager and a blind wager from each participating player. An optionalbonus wager may be accepted from at least one participating player.Three player cards may be dealt to each participating player, face up.Three community cards may be dealt, face down. A first check indicationor a first bet indication may be received from each participating playerand a first Play wager of a first, greatest value may be accepted fromeach participating player who made the first bet indication. A firstcommunity card of the three community cards may be revealed. A secondcheck indication or a second bet indication may be received from eacheligible player and a second Play wager of a second, intermediate valuemay be accepted from each eligible player who made the second betindication. A second community card of the three community cards may berevealed. A fold indication or a third bet indication may be receivedfrom each eligible player and a third Play wager of a third, least valuemay be accepted from each eligible player who made the third betindication. A third community card of the three community cards may berevealed. A best five-card poker hand for each player who did not foldmay be identified from the three player cards and the three communitycards. A best three-card poker hand for each player who made theoptional bonus wager may be identified from the three player cards. Aneven-money payout for the ante wager, a blind fixed odds payout based ona blind paytable for the blind wager, with increasing amounts being paidfor higher ranked hands, and a Play fixed odds payout based on adifferent Play paytable for any Play wager, with increasing amountsbeing paid for higher ranked hands, may be paid to each player holding abest five-card poker hand of a predetermined rank or higher who did notfold. A bonus fixed odds payout based on a still different bonuspaytable for any bonus wager, with increasing amounts being paid forhigher ranked hands, may be paid to each player holding a bestthree-card poker hand of another predetermined rank or higher who madethe bonus wager.

Embodiment 15

The method of Embodiment 14, wherein paying the payouts for the antewager, the blind wager, and any Play wager to each player holding a bestfive-card poker hand of the predetermined rank or higher comprisespaying the payouts to each player holding a best five-card poker hand ofa pair of tens or better who did not fold and wherein paying the payouton the bonus wager to each player holding a best three-card poker handof another predetermined rank or higher who made the bonus wagercomprises paying the payout to each player holding a best three-cardpoker hand of a pair or better who made the bonus wager.

Embodiment 16

A gaming table for administering a wagering game may comprise a playingsurface including at least one player interface for at least one playerposition, at least one dealer interface, and at least one processor. Theat least one processor may be programmed to: accept an ante wager fromeach participating player; process rank and suit information of playercards dealt to each participating player, face up; process rank and suitinformation of at least three community cards, face down; receive fromeach participating player a first check indication or a first betindication and accept a first Play wager of a first, greatest value fromeach participating player who made the first bet indication; verifyrevelation of a first community card of the at least three communitycards; receive from each eligible player a second check indication or asecond bet indication and accept a second Play wager of a second,intermediate value from each eligible player who made the second betindication; verify revelation of a second community card of the at leastthree community cards; receive from each eligible player a foldindication or a third bet indication and accept a third Play wager of athird, least value from each eligible player who made the third betindication; verify revelation of a third community card of the at leastthree community cards; identify a best hand for each eligible playerfrom the player cards and the at least three community cards; and pay afirst payout on a first basis for the ante wager and a second payout ona second, different basis for any Play wager to each eligible playerholding a best hand of a predetermined rank or higher.

Embodiment 17

A system for administering a wagering game over a network may comprise agame server configured to be accessed by a client server. The gameserver may be programmed to: accept an ante wager from eachparticipating player; deal player cards to each participating player,face up; deal at least three community cards, face down; receive fromeach participating player a first check indication or a first betindication and accept a first Play wager of a first, greatest value fromeach participating player who made the first bet indication; reveal afirst community card of the at least three community cards; receive fromeach eligible player a second check indication or a second betindication and accept a second Play wager of a second, intermediatevalue from each eligible player who made the second bet indication;reveal a second community card of the at least three community cards;receive from each eligible player a fold indication or a third betindication and accept a third Play wager of a third, least value fromeach eligible player who made the third bet indication; reveal a thirdcommunity card of the at least three community cards; identify a besthand for each eligible player from the player cards and the at leastthree community cards; and pay a first payout on a first basis for theante wager and a second payout on a second, different basis for any Playwager to each eligible player holding a best hand of a predeterminedrank or higher.

Embodiment 18

An electronic gaming machine for administering a wagering game maycomprise at least one player display and at least one player interface;wherein the player interface enables a player to input a wagerinstruction, and at least one processor. The at least one processor maybe programmed to: accept an ante wager from each participating player;deal player cards to each participating player, face up; deal at leastthree community cards, face down; receive from each participating playera first check indication or a first bet indication and accept a firstPlay wager of a first, greatest value from each participating player whomade the first bet indication; reveal a first community card of the atleast three community cards; receive from each eligible player a secondcheck indication or a second bet indication and accept a second Playwager of a second, intermediate value from each eligible player who madethe second bet indication; reveal a second community card of the atleast three community cards; receive from each eligible player a foldindication or a third bet indication and accept a third Play wager of athird, least value from each eligible player who made the third betindication; reveal a third community card of the at least threecommunity cards; identify a best hand for each eligible player from theplayer cards and the at least three community cards; and pay a firstpayout on a first basis for the ante wager and a second payout on asecond, different basis for any Play wager to each eligible playerholding a best hand of a predetermined rank or higher.

Embodiment 19

The method of Embodiment 18, wherein the at least one player displaycomprises a single player display configured for single player play.

Embodiment 20

The method of Embodiment 18, wherein the at least one player displaycomprises a common display, wherein the machine is configured formultiple players to play the same game.

While certain illustrative embodiments have been described in connectionwith the figures, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize andappreciate that embodiments encompassed by the disclosure are notlimited to those embodiments explicitly shown and described herein.Rather, many additions, deletions, and modifications to the embodimentsdescribed herein may be made without departing from the scope ofembodiments encompassed by the disclosure, such as those hereinafterclaimed, including legal equivalents. In addition, features from onedisclosed embodiment may be combined with features of another disclosedembodiment while still being within the scope of the disclosure, ascontemplated by the inventors.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of administering a wagering game,comprising: accepting an ante wager from each participating player;dealing player cards to each participating player, face up; dealing atleast three community cards, face down; receiving from eachparticipating player a first check indication or a first bet indicationand accepting a first Play wager of a first, greatest value from eachparticipating player who made the first bet indication; revealing afirst community card of the at least three community cards; receivingfrom each eligible player a second check indication or a second betindication and accepting a second Play wager of a second, intermediatevalue from each eligible player who made the second bet indication;revealing a second community card of the at least three community cards;receiving from each eligible player a fold indication or a third betindication and accepting a third Play wager of a third, least value fromeach eligible player who made the third bet indication; revealing athird community card of the at least three community cards; identifyinga best hand for each eligible player from the player cards and the atleast three community cards; and paying a first payout on a first basisfor the ante wager and a second payout on a second, different basis forany Play wager to each eligible player holding a best hand of apredetermined rank or higher.
 2. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: dealing at least one additional community card, face down;receiving a third check indication from at least one player;administering at least one subsequent round of receiving checkindications or bet indications, with accompanying acceptance of Playwagers of reducing value with each passing round from players who makethe bet indications; and revealing a face down card.
 3. The method ofclaim 1, wherein paying the first and second payouts to eachparticipating player holding a best hand of the predetermined rank orhigher comprises paying the first and second payouts to each eligibleplayer holding a pair of tens or better.
 4. The method of claim 1,wherein paying the first payout on the ante wager and the second,different payout on any Play wager comprises paying an even-money payouton the ante wager and paying a Play fixed odds payout based on apaytable, with increasing amounts being paid for higher ranked hands, onany Play wager.
 5. The method of claim 4, further comprising accepting ablind wager from each participating player when accepting the ante wagerand paying a blind fixed odds payout based on a different, blind wagerpaytable, with increasing amounts being paid for higher ranked hands, onthe blind wager to each eligible player holding a best hand of thepredetermined rank or higher.
 6. The method of claim 5, furthercomprising accepting a bonus wager from at least one participatingplayer, forming a best player card hand of only player cards held by theat least one player, and paying a bonus fixed odds payout based on adifferent, bonus wager paytable, with increasing amounts being paid forhigher ranked hands, on the bonus wager to the at least oneparticipating player if the best player card hand is of anotherpredetermined rank or higher.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein payingthe bonus fixed odds payout to the at least one participating player ifthe best player card hand is of the another predetermined rank or highercomprises paying the bonus fixed odds payout if the best player cardhand is a pair or better.
 8. The method of claim 6, wherein paying thebonus fixed odds payout to the at least one participating player if thebest player card hand is of the another predetermined rank or highercomprises paying the bonus fixed odds payout regardless of whether theat least one player has folded on the ante wager and any play wagers. 9.The method of claim 6, wherein paying the Play fixed odds payout, theblind fixed odds payout, and the bonus fixed odds payout comprisespaying according to the following paytables for each respective wager:Best Hand Achieved Play Wager Payout Royal Flush 100 to 1  StraightFlush 20 to 1  Four-of-a-Kind 10 to 1  Full House 6 to 1 Flush 5 to 1Straight 4 to 1 Three-of-a-Kind 3 to 1 Two Pair 2 to 1 Pair of Tens orBetter 1 to 1

Best Hand Achieved Blind Wager Payout Royal Flush 1,000 to 1    StraightFlush 200 to 1  Four-of-a-Kind 30 to 1  Full House 4 to 1 Flush 3 to 1Straight 2 to 1 Three-of-a-Kind 1 to 1 Pair of Tens or Better Push;

and Best Hand Achieved Bonus Wager Payout Straight Flush 40 to 1 Three-of-a-Kind 30 to 1  Straight 6 to 1 Flush 3 to 1 Pair 1 to 1


10. The method of claim 4, further comprising accepting a bonus wagerfrom at least one participating player, forming a best player card handof only player cards held by the at least one player, and paying a bonusfixed odds payout based on a different, bonus wager paytable, withincreasing amounts being paid for higher ranked hands, on the bonuswager to the at least one participating player if the best player cardhand is of another predetermined rank or higher.
 11. The method of claim10, wherein paying the bonus fixed odds payout to the at least oneparticipating player if the best player card hand is of the anotherpredetermined rank or higher comprises paying the bonus fixed oddspayout if the best player card hand is a pair or better.
 12. The methodof claim 10, wherein paying the bonus fixed odds payout to the at leastone participating player if the best player card hand is of the anotherpredetermined rank or higher comprises paying the bonus payoutregardless of whether the at least one player has folded on the antewager and any play wagers.
 13. The method of claim 1, further comprisingtaking the ante wager of each participating player who did not make atleast one of the first, second, and third play wagers.
 14. A method ofadministering a wagering game, comprising: accepting an ante wager and ablind wager from each participating player; accepting an optional bonuswager from at least one participating player; dealing three player cardsto each participating player, face up; dealing three community cards,face down; receiving from each participating player a first checkindication or a first bet indication and accepting a first Play wager ofa first, greatest value from each participating player who made thefirst bet indication; revealing a first community card of the threecommunity cards; receiving from each eligible player a second checkindication or a second bet indication and accepting a second Play wagerof a second, intermediate value from each eligible player who made thesecond bet indication; revealing a second community card of the threecommunity cards; receiving from each eligible player a fold indicationor a third bet indication and accepting a third Play wager of a third,least value from each eligible player who made the third bet indication;revealing a third community card of the three community cards;identifying a best five-card poker hand for each player who did not foldfrom the three player cards and the three community cards; identifying abest three-card poker hand for each player who made the optional bonuswager from the three player cards; paying an even-money payout for theante wager, a blind fixed odds payout based on a blind paytable for theblind wager, with increasing amounts being paid for higher ranked hands,and a Play fixed odds payout based on a different Play paytable for anyPlay wager, with increasing amounts being paid for higher ranked hands,to each player holding a best five-card poker hand of a predeterminedrank or higher who did not fold; and paying a bonus fixed odds payoutbased on a still different bonus paytable for any bonus wager, withincreasing amounts being paid for higher ranked hands, to each playerholding a best three-card poker hand of another predetermined rank orhigher who made the bonus wager.
 15. The method of claim 14, whereinpaying the payouts for the ante wager, the blind wager, and any Playwager to each player holding a best five-card poker hand of thepredetermined rank or higher comprises paying the payouts to each playerholding a best five-card poker hand of a pair of tens or better who didnot fold and wherein paying the payout on the bonus wager to each playerholding a best three-card poker hand of another predetermined rank orhigher who made the bonus wager comprises paying the payout to eachplayer holding a best three-card poker hand of a pair or better who madethe bonus wager.
 16. A gaming table for administering a wagering game,comprising: a playing surface including at least one player interfacefor at least one player position; at least one dealer interface; and atleast one processor programmed to: accept an ante wager from eachparticipating player; process rank and suit information of player cardsdealt to each participating player, face up; process rank and suitinformation of at least three community cards, face down; receive fromeach participating player a first check indication or a first betindication and accept a first Play wager of a first, greatest value fromeach participating player who made the first bet indication; verifyrevelation of a first community card of the at least three communitycards; receive from each eligible player a second check indication or asecond bet indication and accept a second Play wager of a second,intermediate value from each eligible player who made the second betindication; verify revelation of a second community card of the at leastthree community cards; receive from each eligible player a foldindication or a third bet indication and accept a third Play wager of athird, least value from each eligible player who made the third betindication; verify revelation of a third community card of the at leastthree community cards; identify a best hand for each eligible playerfrom the player cards and the at least three community cards; and pay afirst payout on a first basis for the ante wager and a second payout ona second, different basis for any Play wager to each eligible playerholding a best hand of a predetermined rank or higher.
 17. A system foradministering a wagering game over a network, comprising: a game serverconfigured to be accessed by a client server, the game server beingprogrammed to: accept an ante wager from each participating player; dealplayer cards to each participating player, face up; deal at least threecommunity cards, face down; receive from each participating player afirst check indication or a first bet indication and accept a first Playwager of a first, greatest value from each participating player who madethe first bet indication; reveal a first community card of the at leastthree community cards; receive from each eligible player a second checkindication or a second bet indication and accept a second Play wager ofa second, intermediate value from each eligible player who made thesecond bet indication; reveal a second community card of the at leastthree community cards; receive from each eligible player a foldindication or a third bet indication and accept a third Play wager of athird, least value from each eligible player who made the third betindication; reveal a third community card of the at least threecommunity cards; identify a best hand for each eligible player from theplayer cards and the at least three community cards; and pay a firstpayout on a first basis for the ante wager and a second payout on asecond, different basis for any Play wager to each eligible playerholding a best hand of a predetermined rank or higher.
 18. An electronicgaming machine for administering a wagering game, comprising: at leastone player display and at least one player interface; wherein the playerinterface enables a player to input a wager instruction; and at leastone processor programmed to: accept an ante wager from eachparticipating player; deal player cards to each participating player,face up; deal at least three community cards, face down; receive fromeach participating player a first check indication or a first betindication and accept a first Play wager of a first, greatest value fromeach participating player who made the first bet indication; reveal afirst community card of the at least three community cards; receive fromeach eligible player a second check indication or a second betindication and accept a second Play wager of a second, intermediatevalue from each eligible player who made the second bet indication;reveal a second community card of the at least three community cards;receive from each eligible player a fold indication or a third betindication and accept a third Play wager of a third, least value fromeach eligible player who made the third bet indication; reveal a thirdcommunity card of the at least three community cards; identify a besthand for each eligible player from the player cards and the at leastthree community cards; and pay a first payout on a first basis for theante wager and a second payout on a second, different basis for any Playwager to each eligible player holding a best hand of a predeterminedrank or higher.
 19. The electronic gaming machine of claim 18, whereinthe at least one player display comprises a single player displayconfigured for single player play.
 20. The electronic gaming machine ofclaim 19, wherein the at least one player display comprises a commondisplay, wherein the machine is configured for multiple players to playthe same game.